College wheel set for move in rebuild

Work ongoing at the college

Published:09:54Wednesday 06 November 2013

THE face of Wigan and Leigh College, as this image shows, is beginning to change forever.

As part of the demolition and rebuilding process the iconic big wheel will be hoisted out its familiar place and repositioned around the corner. Work will start on that manoeuvre on Monday and will take 11 days.

During that time, work will begin on the plinth before transferring the wheel from its current home on Parsons Walk to New Market Street, outside the Wheel restaurant.

Phase two of the college’s overhaul, following the construction of the new Professional Studies Centre, will see a new and improved main entrance and a state-of-the-art building to house the main reception.

This will also contain the student and employment services and a café on the ground ﬂoor, with the Learning Resources Centre and library on the ﬁrst ﬂoor.

The existing courtyard will also be redeveloped to provide a refectory and student social space as well as a new training kitchen.

The impressive Professional Studies Centre is now fully built and awaiting its grand opening.

Both parts of the project are part of Wigan and Leigh College’s £12.3m investment across its centres.

Demolition is well under way at the front entrance and sports hall of its Parson’s Walk Centre, as part of the £5.5m re-development of its gateway project.

This investment adds to the £1.4m spent on state-of-the-art facilities at the college’s Pagefield Centre on Walkden Avenue.

Wigan and Leigh College’s principal, Cath Hurst, said: “Our plans for this new development will be of great benefit to our students, but will also help to transform this key gateway into the town centre by creating an attractive, welcoming and accessible main entrance.

“We’ve been making significant investment in our wider campus facilities to give our students the best learning environment, and we believe that this next stage will give us some of the best facilities in the area.”